MORE people can avail of training on information and communications technology (ICT) related jobs as the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) expand its scholarship program.
Engr. Albert Gabriel, information technology officer of DICT-Davao, said their department is eyeing to double the number of students or scholars that can enroll in their program.
“We are expanding the number of training that we provide paras mas daghan pa ang mga workers nato na mahimo online freelancers (so we could encourage or have more people work as online freelancers),” Gabriel said during the Kapihan sa PIA media forum on November 25.
As of this year, digitaljobsPH Training Program in Davao Region produced a total of 126 graduates. According to DICT-Davao, 46 of them already have online jobs during the training.
The program provides necessary skills training to help individuals land online jobs in the field of digital marketing and e-commerce, web development, social media marketing, advertising, search engine marketing and advertising, content writing, graphic design, and virtual assistance.
Gabriel said the program follows international standards for online freelancers that would increase the competitiveness of the trainees and their chances of being hired.
“Ang ka-competition ani (in the industry) dili man mga Pilipino lang, mga international na (The competition is not just among Filipinos but international). We are not just giving the skills to the people but we are also giving them the training on how to be hired,” Gabriel said.
The target beneficiaries of the digitaljobsPH Training Program are disadvantaged individuals in rural areas or areas lacking investors and traditional employment and job opportunities.
“The program looks beyond the common source of supply for traditional outsourcing to provide higher-income employment and access to new income opportunities to individuals that might not otherwise be employed in this sector,” DICT said.
Gabriel said that online ICT workers would have access to home-based jobs and higher payment rate. Graduates of the program may also use DICT-Davao’s facilities for their work.
“Naa man gud ta mga kaigsuonan na wala opportunity mag trabaho sa traditional office but if they are comfortable to work at home with the use of technology, naga hatag mi ani na training (There are people without opportunities to work in traditional offices and jobs but if they are comfortable working online, this training is for them),” Gabriel said. ICM